I am in my last 2 weeks here in Michigan.  I’ve had some good down time, lots of exploring, some self discovery and building, quality and important time with my partner and I was blessed with my son wanting to spend a big chunk of his summer with me. I set out to have a summer off and get to fish and explore for myself and I’ve gotten to do that.

Michigan has taught me a lot. It is not the west. The vibe is different, the fishing very different, the landscape, the water, the people. Everything is very different. Not worse or better just different.

Warmwater species is by far my favorite out here in Michigan.  The plethora of options and spaces to chase pike, musky, gar, bass, bluegill, and smallmouth is overwhelming. Vast lakes, small lakes, lakes connected by slewy rivers. You dodge jet skis and speedboat, pontoon party barges and other big tournament style bass boats.

I’ve been out of the bass game for a bit but damnit it’s been a good time fishing both flies and gear. A soft plastic worm still catches the biggest fish so that hasn’t changed. Popper fishing is fun with most hours giving at least a few shots if not dozens.

I’ve barely scratched the surface out here and another May to mid July adventure is in store for next year. I still have 2 weeks to hammer out a few more warmwater species areas with my new boat.  I want some smallmouth and a shot at musky before I go. Lake St. Claire is on the menu.

The trout fishing is a different beast and I am leaving Michigan with a new found appreciation and respect for what I’ve been fortunate to fish over the past 20 years out west. Blue Ribbon out west and Blue Ribbon out east are two very different things. Out west it means there’s a lot of fish. Usually 1000 per mile to receive Blue Ribbon status. Out east Blue ribbon means easy access and wadable areas. Very different fish numbers aren’t part of the equation.  Michigan has a robust stocking program and many of the trout fishing on the rivers is comparable to small spring creek fishing out west. Large fish are there, but wary, seasoned, hooked many times, and spaced out in very specific zones. Small fish are common and days are typically a handful of smaller trout and maybe a shot or 2 at big ones.  It’s all at night in the summer. Usually a spot is picked and sat on until the window of feeding happens.  It is a crapshoot through and through. Might happen might not that’s trout fishing.

A day of trout fishing in Michigan is different than out west. After several weeks of trout fishing, various rivers floating and wading, talking with others, and experiencing it for myself, I have formed my thoughts on it all.

I leave Michigan knowing I prefer western trout fishing. Not better out west just different and more my speed and vibe. I cannot see myself guiding for trout in spaces out east. Just not my thing. And that’s okay.  I felt similarly about Florida, and Alaska, I’m a PNW boy when it comes to the troots. 

The warmwater stuff out east…doesn’t even compare to out west. Michigan and Wisconsin are warmwater paradise for anglers. I’ll be back working those fisheries into my guiding. A captains license for 2025 will make that an easy reality.

I am excited to head back to the homewater. Michigan has made me appreciate the experiences out west tenfold and realize how lucky I have been with the lifestyle I have. I get to travel, pick places I want to fish, work, and live.  The things I seen, shared, experienced, not just out west but everywhere I’ve been, I am truly fortunate. Thankful to the anglers that frequent my boat and allow me to help them experience fly fishing.

Excited to come back anglers…see ya riverside soon.

Tamarack

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Published by tamaracksguideservice

I have been fishing the Yakima River and its surrounding tributaries, creeks, and lakes for 10 years. I have been tying flies specific to this river for 10 years as well. I have guided not only the river but also many of the hiking and mountaineering trails in the area and fished some of the more remote lakes and streams. I love to fish the Yakima River and have been running my driftboat here for 5 years. I guide a little differently than the other services here and have a slightly different philosophy on guided fishing trips. Its all about the experience, and while I can't promise there will always be cooperative trout, there will always be good times. I learned from some of the greatest anglers the Yakima has both on the water and at the vise and I guide to share and pass on that knowledge and expertise so others can enjoy this river as much as I do. I love to teach people to fish, I love to teach people how to read the river, and I love showing people the beauty and art of fly fishing. My service is a bit cheaper but that is because I have no shop taking a percentage. I use a lot of my own fly designs and patterns that no other guide has and have spent the past 10 years fine tuning my tying and patterns specific to this river. I have flies, leaders, tippets, and fly rods and reels, and always welcome anglers to bring their own gear. If you need waders and boots I can arrange for a rental. I support my local fly shop for my trips as well as it is important to me that our local shops stay open. When you take a trip with me it all about fishing and the experiences that happen along the river. I love getting my clients to have great moments with our trout here. Ask me all the questions you can, I want to teach as much as you want to learn. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport I love sharing this river with people. I guide the Yakima River and many other secret waters in the area. When you give me a call I will ask you lots of questions as I want to make sure you have the best experience possible while chasing the trout we have here. Whether its a guided river float or a hike and fish, or a walk and wade to the secret places, I can help make your fly fishing experience memorable and fun. Give me a call today and lets set up a time to go fishing.

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